Dolly Parton’s Younger Brother Randy Parton Dies of Cancer at 67

Country music singer Randy Parton, brother to Dolly Parton, has died after a long battle with cancer. His sister announced his death on Thursday in a post on her Facebook page.

“The family and I are grieving his loss but we know he is in a better place than we are at this time,” she wrote.

He was 67 years old.

Parton described her brother as “a great singer, writer, and entertainer” and said he sang and played guitar and bass in her band for many years. He had also headlined a show at her Dollywood amusement park since it opened in 1986, she said.

“We are a family of faith and we believe that he is safe with God and that he is joined by members of the family that have gone on before and have welcomed him with joy and open arms.”

The statement continued: “We will always love him and he will always be in our hearts.”

A brief history on Randy Parton

Randy Parton real names Randel Huston Parton was an American singer-songwriter, actor and businessman. Parton was the eighth of twelve children born to Avie Lee Caroline (1923–2003) and Robert Lee Parton Sr (1921–2000), in Sevierville, Tennessee. He was the younger brother of Dolly and Stella Parton and the older brother of actress Rachel Dennison.

He was the first person to record the song “Roll On (Eighteen Wheeler)” in 1982. Two years later the band Alabama recorded it in 1984. It was the group’s 12th straight No. 1 single. In 1984 he sang a song for the Rhinestone soundtrack; his sister Dolly starred in the film.

Randy also played bass for his sister.

“He’s had several chart records of his own, but his duet with me on ‘Old Flames Can’t Hold A Candle To You’ will always be a highlight in my own career,” she wrote.

Randy Parton last appeared on an album in 2020, singing with his sister on “You Are My Christmas.” Dolly Parton dedicated the song to her brother, releasing it on her “A Holly Dolly Christmas” record.

“It was his last musical recording and he shined on it just like he’s shining in heaven now,” Parton said.
Last year, Parton said she wrote the song for her brother, whom she described as “our Christmas baby.”

Randy Parton is survived by his wife, Deb, his daughter Heidi, son Sabyn, and grandsons Huston and Trent, according to the post.

“We will always love him and he will always be in our hearts,” she wrote. Dolly Parton turned 75 on Tuesday and marked her birthday with a message of kindness.

Source: CNN